Bio Dentistry MI - Sue Shoha, DDS

10/06/2026

I’ve always found saliva fascinating.

We think of it as just… saliva. But when I’m looking in someone’s mouth, it gives me another little piece of information.

In this case, I’m checking the pH.

I like to see it close to neutral because our teeth are constantly going through this little exchange of minerals. When the mouth becomes too acidic, the balance shifts toward minerals leaving the tooth rather than going back in. That’s when I start thinking about cavity risk and the environment around the gums too.

And then I ask why.

What are you eating? Are you getting enough minerals? How is your digestion? Are you breathing through your mouth and drying everything out?

A saliva pH test isn’t going to diagnose what’s happening elsewhere in the body. But it can give me a clue, and after all these years in dentistry, I’ve learned not to ignore the clues.

The mouth has a funny way of telling us when something deserves a closer look.

That’s the part of biological dentistry I love most. Teeth are important, of course. But there is usually a much bigger person attached to them.

08/27/2026

A 6-year-old with this much tooth wear deserves more than, “He grinds.”

In this case, the clues started before we even looked inside the mouth: venous pooling, a retruded lower jaw, mouth breathing, snoring.

Then we looked closer.

The tongue was restricted and sitting low. The palate was high and narrow. There was very little spacing between the baby teeth, which already tells us the upper jaw hasn’t developed as wide as we’d like.

And at night, his jaw comes forward and grinds.

That may be his body’s way of creating a little more room to breathe.

This is why I don’t like treating signs in isolation.

The worn teeth matter.
The tongue matters.
The jaw matters.
The way he sleeps matters.

Put them together, and the story becomes much clearer.

If this kind of case interests you, I share a lot here about how growth, tongue posture, sleep and breathing connect. Follow if you’d like to see more.

08/05/2026

For years, heart disease and gum disease were treated as two completely separate conversations.

Now, research is making us ask some important questions.

Recent studies have identified oral bacteria inside arterial plaques and diseased heart valves. While this doesn’t prove that gum disease causes heart disease, it does remind us that the mouth isn’t separate from the rest of the body.

As a clinician, this is exactly the kind of research I pay attention to. Not because one study changes everything, but because good science helps us ask better questions and look more closely at what’s happening before disease progresses.

One thing I often tell my patients is this: don’t wait until your gums hurt. Gum disease is often painless in its early stages, which is why many people don’t realise there’s a problem until significant damage has already occurred.

This is also why I incorporate saliva testing into my practice for selected patients. Saliva can give us valuable information about the bacteria living in your mouth and help us create a more personalised treatment plan, rather than relying on guesswork alone.

The goal isn’t simply healthier teeth.

It’s understanding what’s happening in your mouth early enough to support your overall health.

Follow for evidence-based conversations about oral health, airway health, and whole-body wellness.

07/23/2026

We often think healthy gums come down to one thing:

🪥 Brush well.
🦷 Floss regularly.
👩‍⚕️ Visit your dentist.

And those habits absolutely matter.

But nutrition may also be part of the picture.

A growing body of research suggests that Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 may both play a role in periodontal health.

🦴 Vitamin D3 helps your body absorb calcium.

🦷 Vitamin K2 helps activate proteins that guide calcium to your bones and teeth, where it’s needed most.

Interestingly, a 2023 study found that people with higher Vitamin K2 levels tended to have healthier periodontal tissues. While this doesn’t prove that Vitamin K2 prevents gum disease, it highlights an important message:

Your gums don’t exist in isolation.

They respond to your oral hygiene, your overall health, your diet, your immune system, and your lifestyle.

That’s why biological dentistry looks beyond the mouth. We believe oral health is connected to whole-body health.

💬 Have you ever had your Vitamin D levels checked? Let me know in the comments.

06/19/2026

Kind words like these never get old.

We spend a lot of time talking about airway, function, and treatment plans, but what matters most is how people feel when they walk through our doors.

Thank you, Jean, for trusting us with your care over the years. Reviews like this mean more than you know. 🤍

06/16/2026

05/15/2026

I frequently see patients who have spent years believing their exhaustion, poor focus, anxiety, nighttime waking, jaw tension, headaches, or “light sleep” were simply part of modern life.

They adapted to surviving on fragmented sleep.

Airway dysfunction is rarely just about snoring. It influences autonomic regulation, cardiovascular stress, metabolic health, inflammation, cognitive performance, and recovery.

This is why screening matters.

Not every patient needs CPAP.Not every patient has severe apnea.But many patients deserve a deeper airway evaluation than they have received.

Healthy sleep is not just about duration.

It is about how efficiently the body can breathe, regulate, recover, and restore throughout the night.

03/19/2026

For many years, fluoride has been a standard part of dentistry.

But as our understanding of oral and systemic health has evolved, so has the way we approach prevention.

We began to look beyond the idea of simply strengthening enamel…
and started asking what is actually driving breakdown in the first place.

Tooth decay is not just about the surface of the tooth.
It is influenced by the oral microbiome, diet, saliva, mineral balance, and overall health.

When these systems are supported, the body has an incredible ability to maintain and even remineralize tooth structure naturally.

This does not mean one approach is right for everyone.
It means dentistry should be thoughtful, individualized, and rooted in a deeper understanding of biology.

Our focus has shifted toward supporting the whole system, not just managing symptoms.

If you have been wondering about fluoride free options or a more biological approach to dental care, we are always happy to have that conversation.

DM me “HEALTH” to explore what may be appropriate for you.

03/12/2026

Did you know the mouth and the brain are more connected than we once believed?

One of the bacteria commonly involved in gum disease is Porphyromonas gingivalis. Researchers have found this bacterium and its toxic enzymes, called gingipains, in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

This does not mean gum disease directly causes Alzheimer’s. But it highlights something important.

Chronic inflammation in the mouth does not stay in the mouth.

The oral cavity is part of the body’s larger system. When gum disease is present, bacteria and inflammatory molecules can enter the bloodstream and potentially influence other organs, including the brain.

This is one reason biological dentists pay close attention to gum health and oral inflammation.

Oral care is not only about preventing cavities.
It is about supporting the health of the entire body.

Simple steps that matter

Brush and floss consistently
Address bleeding gums early
Maintain regular dental care
Support a healthy oral microbiome

Your mouth is not separate from your body. It is one of the gateways to systemic health.

If you found this interesting, consider sharing it with someone who cares about their long-term health.